European Imperialism Dbq

The Europeans colonized colonized many parts of the world but the most colonized was the continent Africa. The European explorers started imperializing Africa after exploring into the interior of Africa and finding the resources that African countries had. What is imperialism? Imperialism is the policy of taking control of another country. There were three main reasons for European imperialism in Africa: Political reasons, technology, and economic reasons.

Between the years 1881 and 1914, African territory was being invaded by Europeans during the New Imperialism period. Before Europe’s invasion, Africa consisted of various tribes and had no central government due to this during the mid nineteenth century. Europe attempted to colonize Africa using harsh military force and resulted in the European Scramble for Africa. The European Scramble for Africa caused African leaders to have different reactions such as some wanting to have no conflicts, but peace, surrendering to the Europeans due to fear, and also attempting to fight back against the Europeans.

During the late 1800’s, Europe was looking for a way to improve themselves as a whole. With growing population and a steady decline in available work, something new had to be done. Countries looked towards Africa to serve as new colonies for the Europeans in order to better their own countries. During the European acquisition of African colonies in the period 1880 to 1914 Europe’s attitude towards Africa was that Africa was the inferior race in comparison to the Europeans. With the help of a strong feeling of nationalism, Europeans were motivated to acquire new lands in order to improve their motherland’s

For centuries, European nations had been trading slaves, gold, ivory, and more with the west coast of Africa. Throughout the early 1800s, Europeans barely knew anything about the rest of the country of Africa. This quickly changed as Europe grew a sudden interest in exploring the rest of the country and taking advantage of their many valuable resources. Many wonder what motivated Europeans to Imperialize Africa, or extend their country’s power throughout Africa. The driving forces behind European Imperialism in Africa were the strive for ultimate power in Africa between competing countries, the need for money and technological advancements in European civilizations, and the constant attempt for Europeans to spread their cultures throughout

From 1880 to 1914, Industrial European countries favored the idea of Imperialism in African colonies which motivated them to acquire resources, riches, and territory which eventually led them to seemingly have an attitude in which their race was superior. Even before Imperialism became popular, England had colonies such as the American Colonies which spread their ethnicity and race as well as their power. Europeans countries began to comprehend and understand that they could use the resources for their operations and expansion toward their country. The De Beers Mining Company was a prime example of how Imperialism allowed European countries to obtain resources and territory which made them stronger and richer. Africa was the motherload,

This push against other cultures and beliefs and even degradation of them, would continue later in the late 19th century as well, with the ideas of spreading Christianity, civilization, and education becoming a central motive for American imperialism. They believed, as Josiah Strong did, that the Anglo-Saxon race of America was the “race of unequalled energy” and “the representative of the largest liberty, the purest Christianity, and the highest civilization… [that] will spread itself over the earth” (Doc B- Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis by Josiah Strong). What should also be noted is the Social Darwinist thinking of the time, where the Anglo-Saxon race will rise to the top in the supposed “competition [for] ‘the survival of the fittest’” (Doc B- Our Country: Its Possible Future and Its Present Crisis by Josiah Strong). Social Darwinism

A social force such as Cecil Rhodes in document four, he convinced them that they were the best race the world has, “... the most human, most honourable race the world possesses.” He also says that they should take every opportunity of taking/gaining land, as well as stating that the Britons are the best race in the world and the more they acquire the better off the world is. With what he is saying he wants the people to believe what he believes, the imperialistic ways of this ending century and birth of a new. Although he does not care who he may harm while doing so in the future it happens. In document five, the arise of an old idea of “survival of the fittest” an evolutionary teaching/thought was justified by competition and brought by ruthlessness. With this document William L. Langer is showing a non-economic way of imperialism since he did not want to hide these other factors by economics at his time. This document shows that the evolutionary term “survival of the fittest” was used fairly often during the age of imperialism since it definitely was one against another. Document four shows the “survival of the fittest” to an extent because Cecil wants to take every opportunity that presents itself (to take territory) and if you are weak you are unable to defend against the British forces. In document six, Rudyard Kipling wrote that what the whites were doing was in the people of Africa's

Between the period from 1880 to 1914, European powers went after overseas empires in Africa. The governments and political leaders of the European powers believed that this colonization of the African empires was necessary to maintain their global influence. A second group of people supposed that African colonization was the result of the greedy Capitalists who \only cared for new resources and markets. The third group of people claimed it to be their job to enlighten and educate the uncivilized people of Africa. Although the political leaders of European powers encouraged colonization of African empires to advance their nation’s global influence, others argued that it was only for the profiteering of the Capitalists who sought new

During the 19th century the United States witnessed major changes. America went through its own industrial revolution and the technological advancements in manufacturing created a surplus in manufactured goods. The country was producing more than it could consume. The Industrial Revolution evolved the country from a consumer of manufactured goods to a producer, causing a raising need for raw materials.

Throughout the history of the world, imperialism has played a major role. Imperialism is one country’s complete domination of the political, economic, and social life of another country. Imperialism has many positive and negative effects. The Age of Imperialism is considered 1800 - 1914. During this time Europe became a major world leader. European countries set up colonies all over Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and encouraged their citizens to populate them. European imperialism boosted Europe’s economy, and made them a world power. Imperialization had an entirely different effect on Africa, Latin America, and Asia. People of these countries were mistreated, they lost their culture, land, and self respect. The negative effects of

By the year 1901, the United States possessed one of the largest navy’s in the world, a growing empire, and the respect of the world as a growing power. It gained these achievements by being involved in the growing imperialism of this era along with Britain, France, Germany, and Japan. However America did not gain its power spontaneously. During the Gilded Age and prior America established policies and precedents that would lead America into the discussion as a world power. Although the United States expansionism in the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries was a continuation of the social and cultural continuation of the past, it was also resulting from the departure from the methods of the past in the government’s pursuit of new economic and political endeavors.

American expansionism in the late 19th century and early 20th century was, to a large extent, a continuation of past United States expansionism, while also departing with previous expansionism in some aspects. During the period of time between the late 19th century and early 20th century, America was going through significant changes. After a revolution in Cuba against the Spanish, as well as the Americans starting the Spanish-American War, the Americans received several territorial concessions from their defeated opponent. Thus, America started on the path to imperialism, gaining several more territories in a short amount of time. Such an expansion in the late 19th century and early 20th century was mostly a continuation of past

Colonial Expansion started as early as the fifteenth century with the European expansion into the Americas. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that was known as new imperialism (notes). During this time, new imperialism sparked the colonial empires expansion and this caused the colonial empires completely take off. These imperialist powers were inspired and motivated to build these colonial empires due to the economic, political and cultural values. These highly industrialized countries were in need of more raw materials like oil, copper, tin, and rubber along with industrial crops and stimulants (notes). Securing these raw materials would fuel their industrialized economies. Due to the domestic markets of Western Europe being full meaning no more increase of profit, these overseas colonies became more profitable. The economy was a large part important in building these colonial empires. In addition, each country wanted to further politically, so that each Western Empire wanted more prestige. This would show the more power and overall national security in competition with other Western countries. Culturally, each country wanted to be the most powerful and believed that their way of life was the greatest. With a strong feeling of cultural superiority, the Europeans felt a moral duty to their countries. This is where nationalism played a role. In many ways, the dominating countries like

The Europeans all scrambled to colonize Africa for t’s raw materials and land. THey had justified it as the White Man’s burden. They believed that is was their responsibility as a more developed race to help Africa catch up in technology, government, economics etc. Rhodes even said, “-and that the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race.” (Doc, 1) With this mindset, Europeans colonized Africa and started to export raw materials such as rubber, diamonds, gold, palm oil etc. White man’s burden led to Imperialism because they thought taking over other countries was the only to help them move forward. In doing so, they also spread their power and influence throughout the world. The White man's burden was also accompanied

“The Belgian colonial empire […] comprised three colonies controlled by Belgium between 1885 and 1963: Belgian Congo […], Ruanda-Urundi and a concession in China” (Belgian colonial Empire). The extent of the Belgian colonial Empire is not to compare to other colonial forces at that time, which can be seen when comparing the number of Belgian colonies to the one of the British Empire (cf. appendix 2)